Dog Safety

Dog Care

The Unexpected Urban Threat To Your Dog: Coyotes

If you live in a rural area, then you’re probably already aware of possible wildlife dangers from predators like mountain lions and coyotes. And if you live in a big city, you might think that such threats are the last thing you’d have to worry about — but you’d be wrong. For example, in some places in the southwestern U.S., mountain lions prowl the city streets with one of them, P-22 in Los Angeles, becoming a local celebrity. But in this article, we’re discussing coyotes, which are even more prevalent in cities than mountain lions. They live throughout Canada, the

June 20, 2017 No Comments

A dog goes for a walk in tall grass that could have foxtails

Dog Care

Foxtails: Tiny Things, Enormous Danger for Dogs

Introduction to Foxtails and Their Risks to Dogs The secret to a fishhook is its barb. Once a fish has taken the bait, and the hook sinks in, it won’t go in the other direction easily. Now, while we don’t know what inspired ancient humans to create the first fishhooks, possibly as long as 23,000 years ago, it’s quite possible that they found their inspiration in nature. After all, Velcro was inspired by burrs from the burdock plant because of their ability to stick to things. Foxtails can also stick to things, but unlike burdock burrs, they can do it

May 23, 2017 No Comments

A dog plays with a ball outside in the snow.

All About Dogs

Hypothermia: Keeping Your Dog Safe In The Cold

In many parts of the world, when winter rolls around it brings freezing weather with it. Along with the cold comes another danger for our dogs: hypothermia, which is a dangerous drop in body temperature. The name comes from the Greek words “hypo,” meaning under, and “therm,” meaning heat. While the condition can affect dogs and humans, it can affect dogs more severely both because they are generally smaller than people and because a dog’s normal body temperature is higher than ours — in fact, when a human’s body temperature reaches what is normal for a dog, this is called

December 15, 2015 No Comments

Mouthy Mutt: Claiming An Object From A Possessive Dog

Many dogs can become possessive or even aggressive over a toy or other object. As a Pack Leader, you need the the ability to claim an object and make your dog give it up. This skill could someday be a lifesaver. So how do you get a large breed to give up possession? The same way you would any other dog! In this episode of “Chance Encounters with Cesar Millan,” Cesar helps an unsuspecting pair in the park learn how to get their German shepherd puppy to relinquish control of a favorite ball.

December 8, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Before You Vaccinate Your Dog…

Rabies is arguably the oldest infectious disease known to humankind, with references to it going as far back as the 24th century BCE. For four thousand years, being infected meant death, whether it was a human or another mammal. This changed in 1885, when Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux successfully tested a rabies vaccine on a human subject, who went on to live another 55 years. At the same time, the vaccine began to be used on dogs. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control reported there were no more cases of canine-specific rabies in the United States — only

September 17, 2015 No Comments

A dog sits in the backyard ready to play.

All About Dogs

Backyard Dangers For Dogs

It’s probably a dream of a lot of dog owners to have a place with a nice fenced-in yard where their dogs can play and explore, but just because that yard is walled off doesn’t mean that it can’t be a dangerous place. There are potential risks — animal, human, and other — that every dog owner should be aware of. Animal Dangers Even in a big city, there may be predators about. Coyotes, known to attack and kill smaller dogs, have become common all over North America and in some places have apparently crossbred with wolves, which makes them

September 8, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Natural Born Swimmers

Hot, sticky, and lazy — summer days seem made to be spent poolside. But while you might consider swimming an easy and relaxing way to idle away an afternoon, your dog may have other ideas. Not all dogs take to the water naturally or happily, and there are lots of dogs who aren’t born knowing how to swim. In fact, not only do many need to be taught how to swim, certain breeds either can’t swim at all or find it very challenging to do so. So if you’re having trouble coaxing your pup into the water, consider if breed

August 18, 2015 No Comments

A man finds a lost dog and calls the owner's number listed on the collar.

All About Dogs

How To Keep Your Dog From Becoming A Holiday Runaway

One of the biggest nightmares of every dog lover is to suddenly find their pet gone missing, and the busiest week of the year for missing dogs is around the Fourth of July holiday. Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to improve your chances of recovering your dog should it ever become lost, as well as things you can do to keep the unthinkable from happening. Tips for Lost Dogs Before Your Dog is Lost The key word is “identification.” Your dog cannot tell humans her name or address, so it is up to you to make sure

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Dog Care

Protecting Your Pack

By Cesar Millan You’ve probably never heard of Joseph Meister, but chances are good that dogs would not be the most popular household pet without him. He was born in France in 1876 and died there, in Paris, in 1940. He should have died in 1885, when he was nine years old. The reason he did not is one of the most important medical breakthroughs in modern history, and it’s why there are so many dogs as family pets around the world today. History of the Rabies Vaccine Joseph Meister should have died because he was mauled by a rabid

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Bed bugs are not something you want to deal with.

All About Dogs

Can Your Dog Get Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs were a common problem in the ‘60s but seemed to dwindle down for a while. Recent reports of bed bug infestations have shown that these pesky parasitic creatures that feed on human hosts are back and are becoming a serious issue. Bed bugs have popped up everywhere from five star hotels to senior centers and family homes. With increased bed bug cases reported, a number of questions have risen about these infestations. Dog owners are beginning to wonder whether or not bed bugs can affect their four legged companions. Can a Dog Get Bed Bugs? “Technically it can

June 18, 2015 No Comments